Locked On Cowboys – "UPSET: Cowboys Seek SHOCKING Victory Against Packers | Can Dallas STUN Green Bay on SNF?"

Date: September 26, 2025
Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
Podcast Network: Locked On Podcast Network

Episode Overview

In this special edition of the Locked On Cowboys podcast, Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool tackle the seemingly uphill Week 4 matchup: the Dallas Cowboys, seven-point home underdogs, hosting the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. Rather than their typical Friday preview, they explore not just what the Cowboys must do, but how they could potentially pull off an "upset of the decade." The episode focuses on three critical paths to victory, with deep dives into defensive game plan, offensive strategy, and the intangibles Dallas must leverage to have a fighting chance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How the Cowboys Can Stop Jordan Love & the Packers Offense

(01:45–04:33, 05:58–10:42)

• Zone Coverage is Key:
  Landon breaks down Jordan Love's performance against zone vs. man coverage, concluding the Cowboys should stay in zone:

  • Love has higher completion percentage and yards per attempt vs. zone, but much lower success rate (39.8% vs. 53.5% in man).

    “He has twice the success rate versus man coverage. And every time you put yourself in man coverage, you’ve been burnt. There’s a reason you haven’t been playing it as much.” — Landon McCool (03:50)

• Pressure is Essential:

  • Jordan Love becomes far more mistake-prone under pressure. The Cowboys must manufacture pressure—especially with Green Bay’s depleted O-line.

    "He is basically the seven-on-seven, you know, flag football king, if he's not under pressure… If you could get him under pressure, he can be a high variance quarterback." — Landon McCool (06:16)

• Capitalize on Packers’ OL Injuries:

  • Green Bay’s line is missing key starters (Zach Tom out, backup Anthony Belton likely out, Aaron Banks struggling/out).
  • PFF rates replacement Jordan Morgan as one of the lowest graded guards in the league.

    "If Kenny Clark and Oso Digizua can win up front, they'll give you a chance." — Marcus Mosher (05:36)

• Leverage Defensive Variance:

  • The mix of stunts/twists rather than heavy blitzing is seen as an opportunity to “confuse” Green Bay’s patchwork OL.

    “You wonder if [stunts/twists aren’t] a really great way to get pressure right into Jordan Love’s face and to potentially get some surprises on him.” — Landon McCool (08:05)

• Green Bay WR Depth is Weakened:

  • Top targets Jaden Reed and Christian Watson are both out, leaving inexperienced receivers in big roles.

    "It's not like this is the most loaded receiver room in the league… with a shaky offensive line and receivers who might not be ready for this prime time moment, there is, there's a gleam here for the Cowboys." — Marcus Mosher (09:18)

2. Cowboys Offensive Game Plan: Survive and Possess

(13:47–20:46)

• Possession, Not Explosiveness:
  • The hosts hammer the need for long, clock-eating drives to limit the Packers’ possessions and keep Dallas’ shaky defense off the field.

    “The name of the game is possessing the ball. Holding onto the ball, converting first downs, staying on schedule, making sure that you’re continuously keeping long drives.” — Landon McCool (13:52)

• First Down Efficiency:
  • Dallas must avoid negative plays and third-and-longs against a Green Bay defense with a 62% first down success rate.
    • Avoid trick plays, stick to quick, efficient plays.

      "You don't want to run like a trick play or a long developing screen or a reverse… No, gotta be efficient on first down." — Landon McCool (16:10)

• Strategic Playcalling:
  • Mix quick upfield throws with running plays, minimize plays going horizontally (no sideline check downs).
  • Identify and exploit Green Bay's defensive drop-off on second down, particularly using play-action from 12 personnel:

    "If you play action pass out of 12 personnel on second down, the Packers have a 16.7% success rate. You can make money on that." — Landon McCool (18:07)

• Mental Mistakes Kill:
  • Dallas, as the less talented team, can't afford penalties or self-inflicted wounds.

    "You can't have penalties, you can't have false starts… it's all the little things." — Marcus Mosher (19:16)

• Running the Ball Remains Crucial:
  • Grind the game down to shorten it and increase randomness; keep the score close, even if low.

    "You've got to get it where… each team had three possessions in the first half, and hey, we're going to halftime and it's a 13-to-10 type of game." — Marcus Mosher (20:12)

3. The ‘Little Things’: Special Teams and Hidden Yardage

(23:10–24:12)

• Special Teams Advantage:
  • Green Bay’s units under Rich Passaccia have been error-prone; Dallas must ‘steal’ a possession or pin Green Bay deep.

    "They've got to steal either a possession or have a big kickoff or pin Green Bay deep if they're going to want to win this game." — Marcus Mosher (23:42)

  • This is seen as one of the few areas where Dallas has an unequivocal edge.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Defense’s Best Path:

  "We want random. We want weird things to happen. And honestly... you want the flow of this game to feel very choppy. That actually favors the Cowboys." — Marcus Mosher (10:42)

• On Facing Micah Parsons:

  “The whole name of this, is avoiding the Micah Parsons problem by limiting opportunities of obvious passing downs.” — Landon McCool (14:24)

• On What It Will Take to Win:

  “Possess the ball, stay on schedule, avoid any obvious passing situations. And if you could score while doing all that, then you may, you may have an opportunity to win this game.” — Landon McCool (20:46)

• On Fan Reaction to Micah Parsons’ Return:

  “I think a lot of Cowboys fans are kind of upset with Micah and the way he handled it. And he, you know, he lied to some folks as well... So I think folks don’t feel quite the way that people, other people outside of the Dallas and the organization think that they do.” — Landon McCool (27:26)

Predictions & Stakes

(24:16–27:16)

• Both hosts pick the Packers, citing:
  • The sheer number of injuries and talent mismatches in Green Bay's favor
  • The narrow, difficult paths Dallas would need for victory
• Game could be close if:
  • Cowboys avoid early deficits and force a lower-possession, grind-it-out contest
• Psychological Stakes:
  • Marcus: “There’s probably more pressure on the Packers in this game than Dallas... If you drop this game, a game where you’re favored… now we’re having a different conversation about Green Bay.” (25:10)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:45] – Setting up the Cowboys’ challenge & defensive keys
• [05:36] – Packers’ offensive line injuries and impact
• [09:18] – Packers’ depleted receiving corps
• [13:47] – Keys to the Cowboys' offensive game plan
• [16:10] – The importance of efficiency on first down
• [18:07] – Second down play action vs. Packers defense
• [20:12] – Need for a grind-it-out pace and run game
• [23:10] – Hidden yardage & special teams advantage
• [24:16] – Predictions and stakes
• [27:26] – Crowd/fan reaction to Micah Parsons’ return

Takeaways for Cowboys Fans

• Dallas must play a near-perfect, disciplined game and leverage every small edge (special teams, clock control, variations in defense).
• The odds are long, but grinding the game down, increasing variance, and forcing errors on a depleted Packers roster is their path.
• Avoiding self-destruction is as important as playmaking.
• The emotional stakes are high—especially around former Cowboy Micah Parsons’ return and the roster-building fates of both franchises.

For more Cowboys analysis, follow Marcus (@Marcus_Mosher) and Landon (@McCoolBCB), and subscribe to Locked On Cowboys wherever you get podcasts.